Driving abroad: Top tips for 10 fly-drive destinations

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

• You won’t need an international driving permit here – your EU or EEA driving licence is fine.

• In cities, you can only park your car on the right-hand side of the road in a street with two-way traffic.

• It might sound like common sense, but slow down at night, when visibility is poorer. Keep an eye on your speed when driving near bends, intersections, schools or other places frequented by children. You’ll want to slow down on narrow roads or those with a steep gradient too – of which you’ll find plenty in Italy!

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

There are some (rather unique) laws and tips to bear in mind when driving in Spain:

• When driving on a Spanish roundabout, vehicles already on the roundabout have priority.

• You can be fined for running out of petrol on certain main roads in Spain, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge!

• You can be stopped (and fined) for speeding, even if you’re exceeding the speed limit by just 1kph. Keep a close eye out for blue rectangular signs with a white figure to indicate the speed limit in residential and built-up areas.

• In some cities, cars parking on one-way streets are required to abide by the following rule: on even days of the month, park on the side with even numbers. On odd days, park on the side bearing odd numbers. A variation on this is streets which require motorists to park on one side for the first half of the month, and the other for the second.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis

• Drivers who wear glasses must carry a spare pair.

Speed limits

*Varies by state

Driving laws and tips

Although rules vary by state, here are a few general laws and tips to bear in mind:

• One rule that might seem a bit alien to most of us is that you can turn right at a red light in most states (apart from New York). As long as the path is clear of pedestrians and traffic and there are no restrictions in place, go ahead! Restrictions will be obvious, such as a sign saying “No right turn on red” or a red filter arrow on the traffic light.

• Don’t flash your lights to let someone out or encourage them to overtake. This can be seen as road rage! The only time you should flash your lights is to remind someone coming in the opposite direction to turn theirs on.

• Each state has its own road rules; for example, in California you must park facing the direction of traffic (so you’ll need to make a U-turn to park on the other side of the road). In Florida, you must drive with your lights on when it’s raining, even during the daytime!

• If you’re in the USA for a maximum of three months, all you need to set off on your road trip is your valid driving licence. This is valid in 49 states, but if you’re visiting Georgia, you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP). If your driving licence is in a language other than English, it’s often a good idea to apply for an IDP before your road trip, to avoid delays or misunderstandings.

• You must usually be at least 21 years of age to drive in the USA – many car rental companies won’t rent to drivers under the age of 25.

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

• Children under 12 can’t sit in the front of vehicles.

• Dashboard cameras (and radar detectors) are illegal in Portugal.

• Don’t use the green lanes on motorways – these are reserved for drivers who use the toll automatic payment system.

• The following motorways operate on an auto-toll basis (i.e. no booths): A2, A4, A17, A22, A23, A24, A25, A28, A29, A41, and A42. There are three payment options:
  • Hire a Temporary Electronic Toll Device (DEM) which charges your credit card when you pass through a toll.
  • Buy a three or five day pre-paid pass from any Portuguese post office. Many petrol stations on the motorway also sell these.
  • Pay in the post office between 48 hours and five days after your journey: this only works for cars with Portuguese licence plates, i.e. hire cars.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

• Radar detectors are illegal in France, and this includes any sat-nav which has maps showing the location of fixed speed cameras.

• Most traffic lights here go from red to green, with no amber, which could be confusing!

• A rather strange law was introduced in 2012, stating that ‘drivers of all motor vehicles and motorcycles must carry a breathalyser’. Luckily, you’re unlikely to be charged a fine as it’s been postponed indefinitely. But you will still need to produce your breathalyser when asked to by the gendarme. Most expire after 12 months, so make sure yours is in date and has the French certification mark (NF).

• The priorité a droite rule gives priority to cars coming from the right, even if you’re on a main road and they’re pulling out from a junction. Although this is being phased out, some motorists still drive with the priorité in mind, even on roundabouts, so be careful.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis.

• In France, children under 10 aren’t allowed to travel in the front seat of a vehicle without a special child restraint. The only exception is if the vehicle has no back seats, no rear seatbelts, or if the rear seat is already occupied by children under 10.

Speed limits

*Built-up areas start from place name signs on outskirts of towns/villages.

**Except when signs indicate a lower limit.

Driving laws and tips

• Radar detectors are banned in Germany – this includes sat nav systems that indicate stationary speed cameras.

• Unlike their Austrian counterparts, German motorways (autobahn) don’t have tolls for private cars.

• It’s illegal to drive wearing headphones, so choose your tunes wisely -everyone else in the car will have to listen too!

• If you’re setting off on a winter road trip to Germany, make sure your car already has winter tyres installed – it’s illegal to drive during winter conditions with summer tyres.

• Traffic coming from the right has priority at junctions and crossroads.

• The Reißverschluss (‘zipper rule’) applies in traffic jams. This means the normal right of way doesn’t apply; instead, cars feed in one at a time from alternating directions.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis.

If you’re visiting Germany for Oktoberfest, check out our guide to Germany’s most famous festival here – and don’t forget to check out the rest of Munich on your trip too.

Speed limits

A number of towns have a general speed limit of 30km/h (except where a higher speed limit is indicated).

Driving laws and tips

• From the 1st November to 15th April, winter tyres are compulsory for all cars driving in Austria.

• During traffic jams it’s a legal requirement to create a corridor for emergency vehicles. Drivers in the left lane must keep to the left as much as possible, while those in the right lane must stick to the far right.

• It’s illegal to overtake a school bus that has stopped and is displaying a flashing light, if you’re travelling in the same direction as the bus.

• All Austrian motorways have a toll, and you must have a ‘vignette’ (toll sticker) when you enter the country. Failure to display a sticker can result in a fine. These come in 10-day, 2-month or annual options costing €9.20, €26.80 and €89.20*. There are two ways to attach a toll sticker:
  • Physical sticker: These can be purchased from post offices, newsagents and petrol stations as well as Austrian Automobile Clubs. Remember that if you rent a car outwith the country, these may or may not be provided – your car rental agency should be able to sort you out.
  • Digital toll sticker: You can get this online or download the app to your phone. Don’t do this the day before you travel though – the digital toll sticker isn’t valid immediately after purchase (in fact, it won’t activate until 18 days after you buy it, at the earliest), so this is best done a few weeks before your trip.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis.

• At traffic lights, the green light will flash before turning amber. Vehicles close to the traffic lights should proceed, but if you’re some distance away, you should prepare to stop. An orange and red light combined means the green light is imminent.

Speed limits

*Unless otherwise indicated.

Driving laws and tips

• Drivers who wear glasses are required to carry a spare pair.

• Radar detectors are banned and can result in a huge fine.

• Don’t park in front of street-bins: these are emptied 24 hours a day and cars will be towed if they’re in the way. There often aren’t any signs warning of this.

• Although you don’t need an International Driving Permit (IDP)to drive in the Canary Islands if you hold a UK driving licence, it’s often a good idea to apply for one anyway. If you hold a driving licence issued in another country, you may be required to apply for an IDP before you drive in Spain.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis.

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

• If your sat-nav shows the location of any fixed speed cameras, this function must be deactivated.

• Radar detectors are prohibited and can be confiscated by the garda (police).

• The M50 in Dublin has electronic tolls which must be paid within 24 hours. There are three payment options:
  • Online at www.eflow.ie
  • By telephone: 1890 50 10 50
  • In store at a Payzone outlet: these can be found
    nationwide, there’s a map online at www.payzone.ie

• Many toll roads don’t take credit cards, so make sure you have some cash handy.

• Children under 12 cannot travel in the front of any vehicle unless using a suitable restraint.

• Unless your car has number plates that include a GB symbol, you’ll need to pop a GB sticker (or magnet) on your chassis.

• Cars coming from the right have right of way at junctions and crossroads.

• Some level crossings have manual gates: drivers must get out of the car and open them (as long as it’s safe to do so) and close them behind themselves.

Speed limits

Driving laws and tips

• If you park on an unlit street, or in poor visibility, you must use a warning triangle or spotlights to alert other drivers to your vehicle’s position.

• Drivers in the UAE have a reputation for being impatient and will often overtake on the inside lane, drive the wrong way down one-way streets,
  or take short-cuts by going the wrong way around roundabouts. Stay alert, and always check your blind spot before manoeuvring.

• Watch out for camels wandering along rural roads: if you hit a camel you may have to pay compensation to its owner.

• While an International Driving Permit is not required for UK driving licence holders, it’s recommended to get one as it will make things run
  more smoothly in case of an accident.

• Dubai operates an electronic toll system known as Salik, paid through a tag in the vehicle. All hire cars come with Salik tags included, however it is worth checking your supplier’s policy as you can either be charged a prepaid fix sum or for every toll used when returning the car. Each toll point costs 4AED (about 90p)*.

• All accidents, no matter how minor, must be reported to the police. They will assess the accident’s severity and you’ll receive a pink slip. If you need to make a claim, the police issue a green slip, which is essential for insurance companies. If your car has to be repaired, the garage will also need to see a copy of the green slip before they can fix your car.